Need_Help - 17-2-2010 at 06:56
We have been looking for a home version of formaldehyde or formalin for a science fair project I am doing. I cannot buy either product where I live. I
am wondering if there is something, over the counter, or home remedy that I can use as a preservative?
DJF90 - 17-2-2010 at 07:02
Telling us where you live would be a good start...
User - 17-2-2010 at 07:04
I don't know where you live but where I do Formalin is sold for cleaning the toes of sheep and other animals with hoofs.
Might be worth to check it out.
Formalin is no longer used as a preservative if iam correct.
The inet can propably help you out with other options.
bbartlog - 17-2-2010 at 08:13
If you're preserving specimens of some sort, you could try using isopropyl alcohol. I don't know whether it's quite as good as formalin if you need to
preserve something for years, but I've used it to preserve bugs for a few weeks and it worked just fine.
ScienceSquirrel - 17-2-2010 at 15:48
Formalin is still quite available for treatment of diseases in koi carp.
A specialist aquarist shop on line should sell it.
kclo4 - 17-2-2010 at 18:51
I believe 10% ethanol solution is now popularly used to preserve specimens.
JohnWW - 18-2-2010 at 06:55
"Methylated spirits" (about 90% ethanol adulterated with substances like methanol, pyridine, sucrose acetate, etc., to make it unpalatable for
drinking, and usually with a blue dye), which can be bought in supermarkets, can be used to preserve biological specimens.
[Edited on 18-2-10 by JohnWW]